CPB Ljubljana 2018 course book

Atoms

In ancient Greek philosophy the term atom (the indivisible) was used to describe the small indivisible pieces , of which matter consists. Father of the so-called Atomism theory was the Thracian philosopher Leucippus (in Greek Leucippos, 450-370 BC), a student of the philosopher Zenon from Helea. According to Leucippus and to his student the Thracian philosopher Democritus (in Greek Democritos - Δημόκριτος, 460-370 BC) matter is built of identical, invisible and indivisible particles, the atoms (in Greek atoma). Atoms are continuously moving in the infinite empty space . This infinite empty space exists without itself being made of atoms. Atoms show variations in their form and size and they tend to be bound with other atoms. This behaviour of the atoms results in the building of the material world. According to Democritus, the origin of the universe was the result of the incessant movement of atoms in space.